2025 – 2026 Concert Programs
All-Bands Concert
May 11, 2026, 7:00 PM
Niles North High School Auditorium
Chip De Stefano, conductor
Cesar Mendoza, conductor
Paul Barrilles, student teacher conductor
Middleton Elementary School Beginner Band
- Frere Jacques – Traditional
- Skip to My Lou – Traditional
- Chant for Percussion – Andrew Balent
Middleton Elementary School 5th Grade Band
- Antz – Carol Brittin Chambers
- It’s Raining Tacos – arr. Patrick Roszell
- Let’s Go Band II – Andrew Balent
McCracken Middle School Concert Band
- Majestica – Brian Balmages
- Disney Around the Bandroom – arr. Johnnie Vinson
- Symphony No. 4 – Andrew Boysen, Jr.
McCracken Middle School Symphonic Band
- Variations on “Scarborough Fair” – Calvin Custer
- Remember Me from “Coco” – arr. Johnnie Vinson
- Café 512 – Ryan George
2026 University of Illinois SuperState Concert Band Festival
Friday, May 8, 2026, 10:00 AM
Chip De Stefano, conductor
McCracken Middle School Symphonic Band
- Sound Off – John Philip Sousa
- Variations on Scarborough Fair – Calvin Custer
- Phoenix Rekindled – Grace Baugher Dunlap
- Café 512 – Ryan George
Selected as Honor Band.
2026 Illinois Grade School Music Association State Festival
Saturday, April 25, 2026
Chip De Stefano, conductor
McCracken Middle School Symphonic Band
- Variations on Scarborough Fair – Calvin Custer
- Phoenix Rekindled – Grace Baugher Dunlap
- Café 512 – Ryan George
Rated Superior with High Honors.
2026 Illinois Grade School Music Association District 7 Contest
March 6, 2026
Cesar Mendoza, conductor
McCracken Middle School Symphonic Band
- Sound Off – John Philip Sousa
- Chorale and Capriccio – Caesar Giovannini, arr. Wayne Robinson
- The Cave You Fear – Michael Markowski
Perfect scores from all judges.
2026 Prairie State Concert Band Festival
Saturday, April 17, 2026
Cesar Mendoza, conductor
McCracken Middle School Concert Band
- New Forest March – Johnnie Vinson
- Danzon – Victoriano Valencia
- Evergreen Escapades – Adrian Sims
- Symphony No. 4 – Andrew Boysen, Jr.
IV. Fast
March Concert
Monday, March 9, 2026
McCracken Middle School
Chip De Stefano, conductor
Cesar Mendoza, conductor
Paul Barrilles, student teacher conductor
Middleton Elementary School 5th Grade Band
- Shepherd’s Hey – Traditional, arr. Chip De Stefano
- Ready the Castle – JaRod Hall
- A Touch of Baroque – Sandy Feldstein & John O’Reilly
McCracken Middle School Concert Band
- New Forest March – Johnnie Vinson
- Salvation is Created – Pavel Chesnakov, arr. Michael Brown
- Tripwire – JaRod Hall
Beginner Band Concert
Tuesday, March 2, 2026
McCracken Middle School
Chip De Stefano, conductor
Cesar Mendoza, conductor
Paul Barrilles, student teacher conductor
Middleton Elementary School Beginner Band
- Cardiff by the Sea
- Hot Cross Buns – English Folk Song
- Au Claire de la Lune – French Folk Song
- Down by the Station – Traditional
- Country Walk – Traditional
- Mary Had a Little Lamb – Traditional
- Lightly Row – Traditional
- Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star – Traditional
- Old MacDonald – Traditional
McCracken Middle School Symphonic Band
- Sound Off – John Philip Sousa
- Chorale and Capriccio – Caesar Giovannini, arr. Wayne Robinson
Combined Beginner Band and Symphonic Band
- Jingle Bells – Traditional
Winter Concert
Monday, December 15, 2025
Niles North High School
Chip De Stefano, conductor
McCracken Middle School Symphonic Band
- Sound Off – John Phillip Sousa
- A Sailor’s Odyssey – David Bobrowitz
- River of Life – Steven Reineke
2025 District 66 Winter Invitational
Saturday, December 6, 2025
Lakeview Junior High School, Downers Grove, IL
Chip De Stefano, conductor
Cesar Mendoza, conductor
Middleton Elementary School 5th Grade Band
- Skysplitter Fanfare – Brian Balmages
- Samba de Soleil – Roland Barrett
- Mechanical Monsters – Randall Standridge
McCracken Middle School Concert Band
- Serengeti Dreams – Robert W. Smith
- Egyptique – William Owens
- Byzantine Dances – Carol Brittin Chambers
Early Winter Concert
Wednesday, December 10, 2025
McCracken Middle School
Chip De Stefano, conductor
Cesar Mendoza, conductor
Middleton Elementary School 5th Grade Band
- Skysplitter Fanfare – Brian Balmages
- Samba de Soleil – Roland Barrett
- Mechanical Monsters – Randall Standridge
McCracken Middle School Concert Band
- Serengeti Dreams – Robert W. Smith
- Egyptique – William Owens
- Byzantine Dances – Carol Brittin Chambers
Annual Fall Concert
Wednesday, October 6, 2025
McCracken Middle School
Cesar Mendoza, conductor
Chip De Stefano, conductor
McCracken Middle School Concert Band
- Little Brazil Suite – Traditional, arr. Andrew Balent
- Danza de España – Carol Brittin Chambers
McCracken Middle School Symphonic Band
- Alman (Renaissance Dance) – Thomas Morley, arr. Chip De Stefano
- Me (reAffirmation) – Randall Standridge
- Hope Ahead – Brian Balmages
Combined Concert Band and Symphonic Band
- Wrath of the Mechanical Monsters – Randall Standridge